BATTY 3 - Perhentian Islands

Batty 3 is an unexpected find in the Perhentians, a much deeper dive than most come here for. This old barge, sunk in 1969, sits upright at 52 metres, making it a serious tech dive, not a casual jaunt. We love the way it just appears out of the blue, a dark silhouette on the sand, almost perfectly preserved by the depth and lack of strong currents. The hull is coated in sponges and colourful soft corals, like a forgotten art installation. Look for the resident batfish that drift around the superstructure, often curious about divers, and we’ve seen some decent-sized groupers lurking in the shadows of the cargo holds. Penetration is possible for trained wreck divers, but the silt can be thick, so buoyancy is key. Our advice? Hit this site in the morning for the best chance of decent visibility before any thermoclines set in. It’s a quiet, contemplative dive, a real contrast to the shallower, busier reefs, and a fantastic option for experienced divers looking for something a bit different.

Location
Perhentian Islands, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
6.496500, 103.166336
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
52m

Wreck History - BATTY 3

Year Sunk
1969
Vessel Type
barge
Cause
collision

The sinking of the Batty 3 was a strange and unfortunate accident. On August 15, 1969, the barge was under tow by the tugboat Michael B off the coast of Terengganu, near the Perhentian Islands. During a maneuver, a miscalculation led to the Michael B colliding with its own tow. The impact caused significant damage to the Batty 3's hull, and the barge immediately began to take on water. The situation was unsalvageable, and the barge sank to the seabed.

Resting at a depth of 52 meters, the Batty 3 is now a destination for advanced technical divers exploring the deeper sites around the Perhentians. The warm, clear Malaysian waters offer excellent conditions for a deep dive. The wreck itself is a large, open structure, allowing for relatively straightforward exploration. Divers can swim along its length, observing the damage from the collision and picturing the unusual circumstances of its sinking, while the structure becomes a habitat for a variety of deep-water marine life.

Best Time to Dive in Perhentian Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Perhentian Islands occur in June, averaging 31.2°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.3°C
  • February: 28.4°C
  • March: 29.1°C
  • April: 30.6°C
  • May: 31.1°C
  • June: 31.2°C
  • July: 31.1°C
  • August: 30.9°C
  • September: 30.8°C
  • October: 30.4°C
  • November: 29.8°C
  • December: 28.7°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Perhentian Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to BATTY 3

Marine Life in Perhentian Islands

Home to 169 recorded species including 105 reef fish, 39 hard corals, 11 sea cucumbers, 5 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BATTY 3

Based on average water temperature of 30.0°C, currents 5 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories